The Textile Museum Journal: A 14th-Century Asian Silk in a Monastic Manuscript

As a part of our online interview series for The Textile Museum Journal, contributing scholar Nikolaos Vryzidis offers an interdisciplinary examination of a silk fabric that survives on the cover and spine of a late medieval Greek manuscript binding, now on display at the Great Meteoron Monastery in Greece. Situated in the heart of Thessaly's most important monastic community, the Great Meteoron boasts rare textile remnants that can document dynamics in later Byzantine and early modern Greek material culture generally known only from textual sources. The study of this rare and intricately patterned textile can contribute to our knowledge of the importation and dissemination of Asian silk damasks and damask-like fabrics in late medieval Europe.  

About The Textile Museum Journal

Our peer-reviewed journal is the leading publication for the exchange of textile scholarship in North America. Published each fall, it features research on the cultural, technical, historical and aesthetic significance of textiles from all around the world. Learn more about the journal

About Nikolaos Vryzidis 

Nikolaos Vryzidis received a Ph.D. from SOAS University of London with a thesis on Greek Orthodox ecclesiastical textiles of the Ottoman period. His work primarily investigates notions of identity and spoliation concerning portable objects in the medieval and early modern Mediterranean. Dr. Vryzidis’ recent projects include the editing of a collective volume on the religious arts in the medieval Mediterranean, as well as a handbook on Byzantine and post-Byzantine textiles. 

How to Participate

This program will take place on Zoom. To participate, please register online, and we will email you a link and instructions for joining. Simply follow that link at the time the program starts (12 p.m. EST / 9 a.m. PST). When you register, you can also request to receive a reminder email one day before the program with the link included.

About the Series

In this virtual series, authors who contributed to volume 50 of The Textile Museum Journal discuss new research on historical textiles. Browse all interviews